why am I just finding out about SodaStream?

[drebo]

They have a trade-in thing for the cartridges that ends up saving you like 50% at BBB. At least, they do at the one near me.

And (at least in California), it is a LOT better of a deal because you're not pissing away CRV money. CRV gets REALLY expensive, particularly on 12-packs and 24-packs.

Sometimes, Raley's will do a buy-two-get-three-free on 12 packs, and the CRV still makes it almost as if you're paying for 3 packs. Those sales are only once or twice a year, though.

Edit: Oh, also, the diet versions of their soda syrup is sweetened with Splenda, not aspertame. That automatically makes it better than store-bought soda, most of which is sweetened with poison.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I've heard good reviews on it. And if one does the math for Sodamix and CO2, it comes out around $1 per 2L.

 

[KeithTalent]

Dan Patrick show has been advertising this thing for months. I have no use for such a device, but I could see it being useful for soda drinkers, or even pop drinkers.

KT

 

[shortylickens]

Bed, Bath & Beyond has awesome shit. And its more affordable with the regular 20% off coupons.

 

[Dirigible]

I've heard good reviews on it. And if one does the math for Sodamix and CO2, it comes out around $1 per 2L.

So $1 per 2L. Plus the cost of the device. Plus the work in cleaning the soda bottle you use.

It would take years for this thing to pay for itself in my case. Maybe someone who drinks a lot of soda would be well-advised to purchase it, but not me.

 

[KeithTalent]

So $1 per 2L. Plus the cost of the device. Plus the work in cleaning the soda bottle you use.

It would take years for this thing to pay for itself in my case. Maybe someone who drinks a lot of soda would be well-advised to purchase it, but not me.

Wouldn't you just pour yourself a galss each time you wanted one? Why would you fill a giant bottle every time?

KT

 

[Eli]

I saw this on an Infomercial one night. I almost bought it right then, to be honest with you. And I've never bought anything off the TV before.

It would be nice to save on buying regular soda, but I think it would just be simply awesome to carbonate.. anything. Or how about re-carbonate your flat soda?! Now that would be some badassery right there.

 

[xSauronx]

I have to say...this sounds like a big hassle to wind up with a soda. I think such a hassle should wind up with, at the least, some kind of alcoholic beverage

 

[DrPizza]

Wow, I love how nobody has ever heard of this or how it works and suddenly is all pissy about it. How would you expect a device to carbonate water if not for gas canisters? Would you want to use a bicycle pump (I am not even sure if that'd work). Of course it uses canisters. What's the problem here?

Would you like me to google "proprietary" for you? That means you're locked into purchasing the CO2 only from that company, instead of from a larger number of vendors who sell CO2. i.e. they'll make even more money from you down the road.

i.e. imagine that if you purchased a Dell computer, that you were ONLY able to attach a Dell monitor to, because it was made a special way. And, you could only attach a Dell keyboard.

Get it?

 

[Dirigible]

Wouldn't you just pour yourself a galss each time you wanted one? Why would you fill a giant bottle every time?

KT

Does the thing work like that? Seems hard to believe. How would you seal the glass to let the pressurized CO2 carbonate the beverage?

 

[QueBert]

Would you like me to google "proprietary" for you? That means you're locked into purchasing the CO2 only from that company, instead of from a larger number of vendors who sell CO2. i.e. they'll make even more money from you down the road.

i.e. imagine that if you purchased a Dell computer, that you were ONLY able to attach a Dell monitor to, because it was made a special way. And, you could only attach a Dell keyboard.

Get it?

Dell uses proprietary shit lol, I got a 5 year old PC sitting on my work bench right now somebody needs fixed. The case has a weird header plug that won't work on any non Dell MB. And guess what? Yup, his MB's dead. Your argument makes sense except using Dell is a pretty shitty example. The entire sodastream system isn't proprietary, just one part of it. Which is the same as a Dell computer. My Zune HD uses a proprietary connector, same with my iPod my electric toothbrush uses special brush heads, same with my electric shaver. I think proprietary is pretty common with a good amount of shit that's on the market.

 

[Eli]

Does the thing work like that? Seems hard to believe. How would you seal the glass to let the pressurized CO2 carbonate the beverage?

It doesn't seal. It just bubbles the gas into the liquid.

It does seem quite wasteful, as far as gas is concerned. Come to think of it, I bet it may not carbonate it much more than say, sparkling cider - very small bubbles.

That would kinda suck. Wish I could try it out, though.. it would be interesting. Anyone have one, by chance?

If someone gets one, post a review!

 

[Capt Caveman]

I saw this on an Infomercial one night. I almost bought it right then, to be honest with you. And I've never bought anything off the TV before.

It would be nice to save on buying regular soda, but I think it would just be simply awesome to carbonate.. anything. Or how about re-carbonate your flat soda?! Now that would be some badassery right there.

I'd have to taste the soda before buying it. They'd be smart to offer a sampler pack so that you could try it before you spend that much money.

I'd like the thought it would eliminate the hassle of going to the store to buy soda and lug home a bunch of bottles or cans.

 

[Codewiz]

Key fact bolded.

Unless you get an adapter to hook it up to a standard CO2 tank.

http://www.co2doctor.com/

 

[MovingTarget]

We've been considering one as we do drink a lot of soda. However, we don't drink the same sodas. (I can't stand diet drinks) The sodastream seems like a good deal, but you get what you pay for.

Personally, I'd rather get a system that I can go with the real stuff from Coke or Pepsi. Something like this: http://www.sodabarsystem.com/index_Soda_Dispensers.htm

Honestly, I remember seeing a smaller pushbutton dispenser type about the size of a microwave with about 6 different flavors. I can't find anything similar though.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Dell uses proprietary shit lol, I got a 5 year old PC sitting on my work bench right now somebody needs fixed. The case has a weird header plug that won't work on any non Dell MB. And guess what? Yup, his MB's dead. Your argument makes sense except using Dell is a pretty shitty example. The entire sodastream system isn't proprietary, just one part of it. Which is the same as a Dell computer. My Zune HD uses a proprietary connector, same with my iPod my electric toothbrush uses special brush heads, same with my electric shaver. I think proprietary is pretty common with a good amount of shit that's on the market.

His point was, the person he quoted acted like people were trashing it for no reason. I see a lot of people on ATOT get offended when people point out something and act like they're getting personally attacked.

 

[Codewiz]

We've been considering one as we do drink a lot of soda. However, we don't drink the same sodas. (I can't stand diet drinks) The sodastream seems like a good deal, but you get what you pay for.

Personally, I'd rather get a system that I can go with the real stuff from Coke or Pepsi. Something like this: http://www.sodabarsystem.com/index_Soda_Dispensers.htm

Honestly, I remember seeing a smaller pushbutton dispenser type about the size of a microwave with about 6 different flavors. I can't find anything similar though.

You could do real coke. Just buy the coke syrup. You will just need to figure out the measurements for it. Go buy coke in a box and do it.

I have my sodastream hooked up to a 50lb CO2 tank.

 

[ed21x]

at that price, why not just buy seltzer water and add your own syrup to it? Seltzer water is like $1.50 for 2 liters at my local supermarket.

 

[MovingTarget]

You could do real coke. Just buy the coke syrup. You will just need to figure out the measurements for it. Go buy coke in a box and do it.

I have my sodastream hooked up to a 50lb CO2 tank.

I'd be curious as to how you hooked that up.

Honestly, I was surprised to see how much even a 1-flavor fountain system is. You think that you'd be able to find a sub-$500 system if you didn't have a refrigeration unit.

 

[Codewiz]

It doesn't seal. It just bubbles the gas into the liquid.

It does seem quite wasteful, as far as gas is concerned. Come to think of it, I bet it may not carbonate it much more than say, sparkling cider - very small bubbles.

That would kinda suck. Wish I could try it out, though.. it would be interesting. Anyone have one, by chance?

If someone gets one, post a review!

Just saw your reply.

The sodastream machine works great. It gets beverages carbonated. I am sure it is wasteful when it comes to CO2. You are in control of how much CO2 you like. I like my soda pretty carbonated so I used 5 "buzzes". Basically you press the button until it buzzes. I do that 5 times.

The bottles are solid also. I have forgotten about a soda for well over a month and it was still carbonated.

As for their syrups:

Cola - Don't like it really
Pete's Choice(Dr. Pepper) - Like it alot
Lemon Lime(Sprint) - Good
Orange - Delicious
Root Beer - Decent

I would not keep a sodastream if I had to continue with their CO2 tanks. They are extremely overpriced. I have a 50lb tank hooked up to my sodastream. I have my sodastream on my countertop and have the tank in one of my counters. Drilled a hole in the side of the cabinet beside the fridge. Can't see anything but the hose going down to it.

The only issue with that is that the CO2 is what gave the sodastream some weight. Without the tank and just the hose, it makes attaching the bottles more difficult.

Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to do the math and pay for real coke, you can get it and mix it. The sodastream syrup is just more concentrated so you would just need to figure out the correct ratio.




EDIT: I took my setup apart and took some poor quality pictures. I did not pull my tank out because it would have been a major pain in the ass.

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/Codewiz/SodaStream/

Sorry for the poor quality. Shows the sodastream top, a sodastream tank, and the CO2doctor CO2Dapter-II.

CO2Doctor has a few options, I originally went with their FreedomOne adapter. That let you hook it up to standard paintball tanks. You could then just go by any paintball place and get a refill. I typically went to Dick's Sporting Goods or Sports Authority. However, I have the value go bad twice within 2 months. The FreedomOne has an on/off value. I had leaks in that value. I swapped it out with the CO2Dapter-II. That let me hook it up to a standard CGA-320 tank.

 

[Eli]

Just saw your reply.

The sodastream machine works great. It gets beverages carbonated. I am sure it is wasteful when it comes to CO2. You are in control of how much CO2 you like. I like my soda pretty carbonated so I used 5 "buzzes". Basically you press the button until it buzzes. I do that 5 times.

The bottles are solid also. I have forgotten about a soda for well over a month and it was still carbonated.

As for their syrups:

Cola - Don't like it really
Pete's Choice(Dr. Pepper) - Like it alot
Lemon Lime(Sprint) - Good
Orange - Delicious
Root Beer - Decent

I would not keep a sodastream if I had to continue with their CO2 tanks. They are extremely overpriced. I have a 50lb tank hooked up to my sodastream. I have my sodastream on my countertop and have the tank in one of my counters. Drilled a hole in the side of the cabinet beside the fridge. Can't see anything but the hose going down to it.

The only issue with that is that the CO2 is what gave the sodastream some weight. Without the tank and just the hose, it makes attaching the bottles more difficult.

Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to do the math and pay for real coke, you can get it and mix it. The sodastream syrup is just more concentrated so you would just need to figure out the correct ratio.

Cool.

So it does use bottles that seal? I guess my memory was askew.

And I don't imagine that hooking up a non-proprietary tank would be very difficult, I'm sure they just use industry standard threads. A quick trip to your local welding or hardware store would fix you right up.

 

[Cattlegod]

Just saw your reply.

The sodastream machine works great. It gets beverages carbonated. I am sure it is wasteful when it comes to CO2. You are in control of how much CO2 you like. I like my soda pretty carbonated so I used 5 "buzzes". Basically you press the button until it buzzes. I do that 5 times.

The bottles are solid also. I have forgotten about a soda for well over a month and it was still carbonated.

As for their syrups:

Cola - Don't like it really
Pete's Choice(Dr. Pepper) - Like it alot
Lemon Lime(Sprint) - Good
Orange - Delicious
Root Beer - Decent

I would not keep a sodastream if I had to continue with their CO2 tanks. They are extremely overpriced. I have a 50lb tank hooked up to my sodastream. I have my sodastream on my countertop and have the tank in one of my counters. Drilled a hole in the side of the cabinet beside the fridge. Can't see anything but the hose going down to it.

The only issue with that is that the CO2 is what gave the sodastream some weight. Without the tank and just the hose, it makes attaching the bottles more difficult.

Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to do the math and pay for real coke, you can get it and mix it. The sodastream syrup is just more concentrated so you would just need to figure out the correct ratio.




EDIT: I took my setup apart and took some poor quality pictures. I did not pull my tank out because it would have been a major pain in the ass.

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y163/Codewiz/SodaStream/

Sorry for the poor quality. Shows the sodastream top, a sodastream tank, and the CO2doctor CO2Dapter-II.

CO2Doctor has a few options, I originally went with their FreedomOne adapter. That let you hook it up to standard paintball tanks. You could then just go by any paintball place and get a refill. I typically went to Dick's Sporting Goods or Sports Authority. However, I have the value go bad twice within 2 months. The FreedomOne has an on/off value. I had leaks in that value. I swapped it out with the CO2Dapter-II. That let me hook it up to a standard CGA-320 tank.

have you tried putting a brick or fill a sandbag of sorts in the old C02 spot to weigh it down properly?

 

[Codewiz]

The bottles don't "seal" per se, the caps for the bottles have washers in them so when you screw on the top, the washer makes a good seal that doesn't leak like a normal 2 liter of soda does.

The threads aren't an industry standard. They are custom connectors on the machine. My local welding shop couldn't fit it. That is why I went with co2doctor. They seemed to be the only people making the connector for it. I could be wrong or my local shop just sucked.

And yes, I could rig something to weigh down the machine but I have just been lazy. My wife complains more than I do because I am pretty good at attaching the bottles without issue.

 

[WelshBloke]

These were really popular in the UK in the 70's.

They are OK if you can get decent syrup, my bet is you'll use it through a few CO2 refills then it will end up in the back of a cupboard somewhere.

I think I've got one lurking around somewhere.

 

[Capt Caveman]

On Amazon, you can get Coke Syrup for $150 for a 5 gallon bag - http://www.amazon.com/Diet-Coke-Syru...2382336&sr=8-6

Wonder how many 2L of soda that is.

edit - Found the same bag for $108 - http://www.nationwidecandy.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=04240010&source=Google